A Sweet Gingerbread Girl at the Beach!

For the Color Challenge on Split Coast this week Hostess Kelly (Schirmcat) asked us to use Kraft, So Saffron and Night of Navy.


I just love the gingerbread stamp sets by Waltzingmouse Stamps and I hate to wait to use them just at Christmas time - so I'm always trying to think of ways to use them for other times during the year.


Today we have the little gingerbread girl at the beach working on her tan! The cute outfit Claire designed for the Gingerbread girl looks like a little bathing suit to me and I made a beach blanket out of her bed blanket stamp! I pounced Chai Tea Die ink by Papertrey over the little girl as well as the sun to soften the bright yellow. The sun is made with one of the gingerbread faces in the set.

Everything is popped up on dimensionals. The wavy beach stamp in the background is from CTMH and you can just barely see the cloudy sky made with my hand made cloud template.


Well - now I'm off to eat supper - thanks so much for coming by today - let me know what you think of my Summer Gingerbread Girl !!!???

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Oven Fresh & Half Baked, CTMH: On the Beach (retired I think)
Paper: SU: Kraft, So Saffron, Night of Navy
Ink: Adirondack: Denim, SU Soft Sky, PTI: Chai Tea Dye
Accessories: foam dimensionals, scalloped circle punch: SU, circle punch: SU, cloud template hand made, heart punch: McGill, Zutter corner rounder

Freshly Squeezed and Sparkling

Today's CAS (clean and simple) challenge on Split Coast was to add glitter or stickles to a card. I added silver ice Stickles to my fresh lime frozen Margueritta - doesn't it look cool and refreshing?!?!

The stamps are from a set called It's Picnic Time at H&M Stamps and this set is just $6 until June 30th when Heather's blow out sale ends - so be sure to check it out before the sale is over!

I colored my refreshing drink with Copic Markers. The dotted ribbon is from Michaels.

Short post tonight - I've really got to get to bed early! I was up late every night over the weekend - so this is it from me for today! One clean and simple card! - and off I go!

Stamps: H&M Stamps: It's Picnic Time
Paper: PTI: White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon: Michaels, Copics: C1, G14, Silver Ice Stickles

This Bud's for You!

Dawn Lusk was the featured stamper over on Split Coast this week. I cased this fun turtle card of hers. I used a different turtle, different designer paper and added a sentiment. This card is for my dear mother-in-law, Marjorie, who will be 94 on July 6th - her husband (who passed away 7 years ago) worked for Budwiser his whole adult life - so she will get a kick out of this sentiment!

I used two Papertrey sets on the inside sentiments - Birthday Basics and Women of Life.

The card is also for last Tuesdays Doubledog Dare challenge that I do with some Split Coast friends - Here is the Doubledog Dare Challenge forum - just scroll down to post #15 to see this one. I was the DDC hostess last Tuesday and my challenge was to use these free digi images from Whimsie Doodles on your card. We'd love to have you join along - just put DDC in the keyword when you load your card in your Split Coast Gallery. You can see all the DDC cards here

And I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from Destin's 8th birthday party that I attended on Sunday.

Here he is with his sister Eden (my God-Daughter) enjoying cake and ice cream. Poor Destin is allergic to practically all foods - so he couldn't even eat his cake - but his mother gave him special ice cream and sauce.

And here he is with his brand new Red Sox baseball cap on - diving into more of his presents. You may be able to see - he hardly has any front teeth right now! They are suddenly all falling out at the same time!Thanks so much for dropping by today!

Stamps: Free Digi Image: Whimsie Doodles, Papertrey Ink: Birthday Basics, Women of Life
Paper: PTI: White, Pure Poppy, DP Cosmo Cricket Early BIrd Sunrise/over easy
Ink: none
Accessories: nestabilities: tag trio, classic inverted scalloped square, Copics: YG03, YG11, YG13, YG17, YG63, Y21, BG96, G82, G17, E13, E37, R09, R20, Glue dots, foam dimensionals, Martha Stewart Punch, PTI Vintage Buttons

Sometimes Prayer is the Only Gift We Can Give

A quick Note! They have extended the deadline to sign up for the Stamping Around Weekend in Farmington CT - so if you want to get in on this super fun stamping weekend see more info and sign up here!


I made this little book of Bible Verses to give to an Interim Assistant Pastor who is leaving our church this Sunday. During his year with us he ran a weekly Bible Study group that I particpated in. I wanted to give him something to remind him of our spiritual time together - so I found verses about prayer as well as discerning God's path for us. He is semi retiring and looking for a part time pastor position in VA where his family is from so he really doesn't know what will happen next for him and his wife.

Phillippians 1:25 Romans 12:2 (click on pic to see larger)

2 Corinthians 1:11 Psalm 16:8-9

James 5:16 Psalm 139: 3, 5-7, 9-10

Psalm 119:2 Psalm 32:8

And this is a picture of our church (that my father drew for the church many years ago so it's really special to me) that I put on the last page so Fr. Charles will remember his time with us whenever he takes out this little book.

I cut out the pages from cardboard with the Top Note die from Stampin Up - then cut out pieces of designer paper with the same die and attached it to all of the cardboard pages - front and back. The verses are computer generated and printed onto Vintage Cream. I cut them out and attached them over the designer paper. I punched holes in the top left corner of each page with my Crop a Dile and put a silver chain through the holes. You could add flowers or other accessories to each page as well as the cover - but I wanted the verses to be the focus so I left it all plain. I think the designer paper has enough color and design on it to make it nice to look at. The cover stamp is by The Stamp Pad Co and I used Labels One Nestabilities to frame it.

I'm teaching two classes at the Paper Tree in Manchester, NH Saturday - and Sunday we're having the farewell party for Fr. Charles and his wife Debbie - then I have an 8 year old's birthday party to attend - so I may not be back until Monday unless I can slip in a little stamping time! Have a super weekend everyone - and thanks so much for stopping by -

remember to check out Stamping Around if you are in the Connecticut/New England area!

Stamps: The Stamp Pad Co.

Paper: PTI: vintage cream,

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: SU: Top Note Die, Tandy Leather: chain, Crop a Dile, Nestabilities: Labels One, computer generated verses.

Just Magnolia Week 11

Good morning all and Happy Friday! I have a project for Just Magnolia today that isn't a card. Now, don't anyone fall over. :O) I made an accordian file purse (find the directions HERE.). This week there was a sketch that we had to use by DT member Bev. I tried my best to follow the sketch, and I think you can still see it in the project.
I hope you all have a great day and an even better weekend!

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop - A Quilted Summer

I'm so excited to be participating in the Papertrey Blog Hop this month! A first for me! We had to create a card or project inspired by the lazy days of summer and show a picture of where our inspiration came from.

Well - this picture from the Pottery Barn July 2009 catalogue really caught my eye. It reminded me of my childhood summers when my parents would let my sister and me sleep on our screened in porch where it was cooler at night. Of course we had camp cots and sleeping bags... but it was the same cozy feeling as these wonderful quilts.

And here are four 'quilt' cards that I created from this inspiration.
I wanted to share with you a little bit of how I put these together. First I made a full sheet of 'quilt' using the Guide Lines paper and Guide Lines Two stamp set and many different colors of Papertrey Ink.! I stamped each design 14 times in the same color randomly around the blocks until the page was filled.

Then I cut them up into rectangles so they were like little quilts. I got 4 out of the sheet so I made 4 cards! I wanted them to be a little antique looking so I used the Camomile tea dye ink on the edges and then daubed it all over each "quilt". Here you can hopefully see them plain, edged, and daubed all over. I also cut around the edges with deckled edge scissors.
Here is a close up of each card. I ran each 'quilt' through my crimper and I used a corner rounder punch on the Bitty Dots designer paper behind each quilt. I pierced around the edges of the Rustic Cream card stock. I went over the grid lines with a light gray Copic to give each square a little definition. The sentiments are from Quilter's Sampler and Quilter's Sampler Sentiments.

These are all very Mish Wooderson-esque dont you think??? Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: PTI: Guide Lines Two, Quilters Sampler Sentiments, Quilters Sampler

Paper: PTI: Lavender Moon, Rustic Cream, Guide Lines, DP Bitty Dots Basics.

Ink: PTI: Hibiscus, Ocean Tides, Summer Sunrise, Plum Pudding, Spring Rain, Lemon Tart, Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, Tsukeniko: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: McGill: heart punch, Spellbinders: Deckled mega rectangle Nestabilities, SU: Deckled edge scissors, piercing tool, pad and grid, Fiskars: Crimper, PTI: Dotted swiss satin ribbons - Summer Sunrise, Lavender Moon, Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet, Copics: C1, Zutter: 1/4" corner rounder,

Dustin Pike Release is DINO-mite!

Hi all...yes I'm really up at 2:45am. I can't sleep again, so I'm getting ahead on my posts for Thursday! It's release day at Dustin Pike's. I have been showing you sneak peeks for the last couple of days and have one more for you.

I finally made one of those Tri Shutter Cards...It wasn't too awfully hard. When I saw this dino I knew I wanted to make a friend card...doesn't it look like it's saying I'm glad we're friends? I used a new WM stamp for the writing on the inside. "The beauty of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile...it's the spiritual inspiration that comes when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with their friendship." I didn't put something on every "panel"...I have seen these over-done. It's going in the mail and I needed some room to write as well. I like it and I hope you do too. :O)

House Mouse + Tequila = FUN!

LOL! That title just sounds wrong! :O) I made a card for the House Mouse Monday Challenge... my first time playing there. They had a sketch this week that I thought was a bit of a challenge. I used "Splish, Splash, a Citrus Bath". I saw this funny quote about life giving you lemons and thought it would be perfect. "when life gives you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over!"
I tried to color the drink in the glass to look like tequila...that's why it and the lemon are so differently colored. I like the way it turned out. :O) How about you?

Freebie + Another Sneaky Peek + Simon Says Stamp!

Hi all! It's freebie day at Dustin Pike's! He gave us another background...don't you love it? :O) I know I do!

I have used this background and posted a card with it already...you can find it HERE if you missed it.

Release day is tomorrow, so I have another sneak peek for you...

Inside it says "Have a DINO-mite Birthday!"

At Simon Says Stamp this week their challenge for you is to make a card or project for a sick child. I will be sending this off to Post Pals with a few other cards and I challenge you to do the same.

I'm not sure why, but the photos are coming out lighter than the actual cards. I colored and colored this image, adding extra color to it. It's darker than this photo shows...I have no idea. He's still cute tho, right? Have a great day!

Tilda Loves Flutterbies Too!

Good morning everyone and happy hump day! Wednesday means it's time for some Flutterbies! Check out Danni's Blog to play along with us for Flutter By Wednesday! This week your challenge is to create an outdoorsy project with a faerie or butterfly. Join in! Everyone loves flutterbies!!! I am also using this card to join in for the Just Magnolia Challenge. They would like you to create a project that makes you think of Summer. I have been patiently waiting to post this for FBW so I could enter it into JM as well. :O) I'm pretty happy with it. It was my first time building a scene with stamps and masking.

Card Recipe

DP: DCWV

Cardstock: stash

Stamps: Loving Tilda-Magnolia, Fence-Alota

Ink: Momento, Copic Sketch Markers

Misc: Buttons and embroidery floss from stash, Stickles, CTMH Liquid Glass, MS doily lace border punch, MS butterfly punch

I hope you enjoy my card this week! Be sure to check out the rest of the design team's creations! Ann, Cassie, Cathy, Chris, Christine, Danni, Harriet, Heather, Jodi, Kim, Kimmie, Michelle, Nancy, Nicola & Stef. Have a wonderful day!

Fresh Baked Color Inspiration

I made this cute little card for Kristen Werner's Color Inspiration #55. The colors were grey, rust, mustard and cream.

The gingerbread man is from a wonderful set by Waltzingmouse Stamps called Half Baked. I embossed the card with the swiss dots Cuttlebug folder and used the Labels Two by Spellbinders and oval Nestabilities for the framings. I added a little piercing on two sides and brads to the corners.

I fooled around with the layers a lot before finally attaching them all like this. And after I was done I realized that it looks like the little man is on a grey cookie sheet right out of the oven! A not planned fun design outcome!

ETA: just found out that they've extended the cut off date for registration to Thursday for the Stamping Around Workshop in Farmington CT - so check that out if you are interested!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Half Baked
Paper: SU: Really Rust, More Mustard, Basic Grey, PTI: vintage cream
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack: Butterscotch
Accessories: foam dimensioinals, Making Memories: Brads, Nestabilities: Ovals, Spellbinders: Labels Two, paper piercer

Mojo #92's Got Me Happy Hoppin'!

Getting your mojo on Tuesday is better than Sunday...when it should be Monday anyway. Last week I almost didn't get my Mojo Monday sketch done on time. I always love Julee's sketches, so I always want to get them done before the next Monday rolls around. I really like the way this card turned out. :O) I used a Happy Hoppers stamp called Party Hoppers. This is the first time I have colored one of these...I have to say I think the bunnies are harder than the bears and mice. Let me know what you think.

Pieced Sympathy

The Clean and Simple (CAS) challenge over at Split Coast was to do paper piecing on your card. I made 3 paper pieced layers on my flower. First I stamped it directly on the card stock - then on the lighter purple dotted designer paper, cut that out and layered it over the first stamping with foam dimensionals. Then I stamped the flower again on dark purple dotted DP and yellow dotted DP, cut out the smaller pieces and layered them over the flower.

I've been loving the drawn framings I've seen on cards lately so I tried it out here using my white gel pen. I really like how it came out.

Unfortunately, I needed a sympathy card this week as my good friend's FIL passed away yesterday - so that's what I made today. All the stamps are from Papertrey Ink - I love this flower that is from Friends Till the End - inside (not shown) I stamped a sentiment from the With Sympathy set "Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in love and prayer". The "With Deepest Sympathy" stamp is from Everday Classics which is not for sale but was sent to customers who purchased a certain amount of sets last year.

A few reminders about Tuesday 6/23:

It's the last day you can sign up for the Stamping Around Workshop in Farmington CT - so check that out if you are interested.

Claire Brennan at Waltzingmouse will have her wonderful Irish Heritage stamp sets available for purchase so be sure to check it out! She's been having wonderful previews for the last few days.

Remember to check out H&M Stamps - Heather is continuing her blow out sale!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: PTI: Friends Till the end, Every Day Classics (not available for sale), With Sympathy
Paper: PTI: Plum Pudding, Bitty Dot Basics
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Foam dimensionals

You're so old...SNEAK PEEK & Simon Says Stamp

Hi everyone. This week's freebie and release from Dustin Pike is totally prehistoric! His Dinos are so cute. Here is a funny birthday card I made using a couple of the dinosaurs from Thursday's upcoming release. I used this card for the challenge at Simon Says Stamps too! They were looking for a Birthday card since they are celebrating their 1st birthday. I used holographic embossing powder on the purple guy, Shimmerz on the green one and some Liquid Glass on the lava. I cut out the brontosauras and popped him up to add some dimension. Everything is colored with Copics. Let me know what you think!

Amore!!!

I'm baaaaaaack! I just finished a card that I think I'll give to hubby for our anniversary. I used this card for 2 challenges.

The first is for the Mojo Monday sketch...just squeaked in with this one! I loved this sketch and was dying to try it...this is my first A10 size card.

The second is for Roses on Paper...Summer wanted us to use flowers and combine challenges along with a Magnolia, Alota, Sarah Kay, Rachelle Anne Miller OR a Greeting Farm stamp. :O)

I colored cutie Spring Tilda with my copics, cut her out and popped her up to sit on the edge of the box.

I found this circle fabric tag that was perfect and added a leaf stick pin. What do you think? Have a wonderful day!